Hoseless Wireless Gauges for HVAC Maintenance and Repair

ABSTRACT

A measurement device for use in the HVAC field that incorporates a one or more remote sensors to measure physical properties such as system pressure and coolant temperature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (“HVAC”), more particularly, equipment to measure pressure and coolant temperature of an operating HVAC unit and wirelessly transmit that data to a specific remote display device.

In the field of HVAC equipment the measurement of coolant pressure and temperature in compressors is common to assess the functioning of the system and the effectiveness of repairs. It is also common for such equipment to be found in inconvenient locations, e.g. on rooftops and/or in confined spaces. Locations such as these present difficulties in connecting bulky measurement equipment as well as requiring bulky and heavy equipment connected to conventional measuring systems to be carried to the measurement site, often via ladder. The bulk of traditional equipment also often prevents the system from being assessed in its actual operational configuration since the ancillary gauge manifold and hoses of traditional measurement equipment often prevent the complete closing of enclosures during the measurement process.

There exists a need for a small form factor measurement device that can be easily carried and connected to equipment for the purpose of measuring a physical condition such as, for example, pressure, temperature, both, or some other physical property of interest. There is also a need for a device that will allow the measurement of system conditions under actual operating conditions. Finally there is a need for a HVAC pressure and/or temperature measurement device that allows for measurement without the need for a traditional HVAC manifold gauge set and the accompanying hoses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a device for measuring and remotely displaying HVAC system data that can incorporate a sensor unit capable of measuring a physical characteristic and transmitting the measured data and also includes a remote display device for receiving the data transmitted by the sensor.

The present invention also includes a method of measuring and remotely displaying data including the steps of connecting a sensor unit capable of measuring and transmitting data related to a physical characteristic to a device for which the physical characteristic is to be measured and receiving the data related to a physical characteristic on a remote display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic in accordance with the present invention showing exemplary deployment of a pressure sensor

FIG. 2 is a schematic in accordance with the present invention showing exemplary deployment of a temperature sensor

FIG. 3 is a schematic in accordance with the present invention showing exemplary deployment of both a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following embodiments are merely exemplary and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the present invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 is depicted a refrigeration unit compressor 100. Such compressors are typically fitted to the remainder of the refrigeration system via circulation lines. These lines are commonly referred to as the low side line 105 and the high side line 110. The compressor creates a high side pressure which results in condensing the coolant and as the coolant is allowed to expand in an evaporator, cooling occurs, and the gaseous coolant is returned to the compressor via the low side line.

In this embodiment, a pressure sensor unit of the present invention 115 is connected to the access port 120 on each of the circulation lines 105 and 110. The sensor units may be part of the same piece of equipment or two separate devices. The use of separate devices is preferred since the location of the access ports varies between systems and are not always close enough to allow the use of a single two-sensor device. The sensor unit may include a pass-through to allow for the charging of the system with coolant or to allow the system to be evacuated with a vacuum pump.

Sensor unit 115 includes any device that can measure the pressure within a circulation line when connected via an access port measurement. The pressure sensor unit also includes a transmitter that allows the value of the pressure measured to be transmitted to a remote display 125. The transmitter may include a microcontroller and a communications protocol module for transmitting data using a communications protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®. The sensor unit 115 may communicate directly with the remote display through any appropriate over-the-air protocol.

The display device may be any device capable of communicating directly with a sensor unit and showing the measured temperature or pressure, such as a computer, or a wireless telephone. The display containing device may be a smart phone that is running an application program that is used to display the received data.

As depicted in FIG. 2, another embodiment of the present includes a temperature sensor unit 130. As shown, the temperature sensor 130 attaches to a circulation line 105 and or 110. As with the pressure sensor unit 115 discussed above, the temperature sensor unit 130 communicates wirelessly with a remote display 125. The temperature sensor may be incorporated into the same physical package as the pressure sensor to provide a single device for the remote display of measured temperature and pressure. The same remote display may be used to show both temperature and pressure for the system under investigation. The wireless pressure may be accessed through the use of a smart phone application or other software designed to receive the data.

As depicted in FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present invention incorporates both pressure and temperature sensor units for simultaneous measurement of both properties. This embodiment incorporates all of the aspects of the two separate sensors units discussed above.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 

1. A device for measuring and remotely displaying HVAC system data comprising: a sensor unit capable of acquiring physical characteristic data of the HVAC system and transmitting the data measured; a remote display for receiving the data transmitted by the sensor unit.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit measures coolant pressure.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the sensor unit is connected to a coolant access point of the HVAC system
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit further comprises a microcontroller and a communications module.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the communications module uses the Bluetooth® communications protocol
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is connected to an HVAC system in such a manner as to measure the temperature of the coolant in the HVAC system.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the remote display is a wireless telephone
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the remote display is a smart phone running an application program that displays the received data.
 9. The device of claim 7 wherein the wireless telephone uses a software application program for receiving the transmitted data
 10. A method of measuring and remotely displaying data comprising, the steps of: connecting a sensor unit capable of measuring and transmitting data related to a physical characteristic of an HVAC system to a an HVAC device for which the physical characteristic is to be measured. receiving the data related to a physical characteristic on a remote display
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the physical characteristic measured is coolant pressure.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the sensor unit further comprises a microcontroller and a communications module.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the communications module uses the Bluetooth®
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein the sensor unit measures the temperature of the coolant in the HVAC system.
 15. The method of claim 10 wherein the remote display is a wireless telephone.
 16. The method of claim 10 wherein the remote display is a smart phone capable of running a software application program to display the received data. 